For the past seven years, homelessness in London has been on the rise, with almost 5000 people sleeping rough on the streets last year. Although often portrayed as the result of individual circumstance, homelessness is as much a product of our built environment and the policies and infrastructures that sustain it.
Chris Hildrey is an architect/designer focusing on complex systems, including contemporary social issues. He created
ProxyAddress – a system to provide those experiencing homelessness with the unused addresses data of empty properties to allow them to reconnect with support services.
ProxyAddress allows those faced with homelessness to avoid being severed from support the moment they lose an address. An address is no longer just a location - it's now a de facto means of identification. This means that if a person becomes homeless they are immediately cut off from the basic services they need to recover.
White Paper
The ability to apply for jobs, receive benefits, open a bank account, receive post: all are placed out of reach at the point they are needed most. Those who might have otherwise got back on their feet with a little early support are instead left to become entrenched in the situation and develop more complex and care-intensive needs over time.
ProxyAddress provides a stable address throughout this period of instability. Using existing data, we create and provide a consistent 'proxy' address that can be used to access services regardless of location or how often you move.
It uses empty or unused addresses and links these with those who have no permanent abode. It allows the homeless to access services, get identification, build financial history, and avoid stigma. By doing this at an early stage, it helps avoid entrenchment and ease recovery.
The project is currently moving towards live trials in Lewisham in partnership with Monzo and Amiqus, the goal being to roll the service out nationally. Find out more
here.
